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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Asked to move out of the way in the zoo

232 replies

Auxiliary016 · 05/08/2021 14:45

Visited Chester Zoo today with my partner. All good - had a lovely time and admired the animals and quality of the enclosures (much more space than many I've visited before!).

I was really looking forward to seeing the Jaguars, and fabulously enough, one sat right near where I was walking, so I stopped just in front of the enclosure to admire it.

I was probably there for about 5 seconds when everyone started to crowd round, and suddenly this woman came out of the blue and said directly to me "Excuse me, coming through - I've got kids!", heavily implying me to move out of the way. I was shocked and so just moved straight away, but actually on hindsight I'm quite upset. Sad I don't have kids, but I have as much right to stand at the front as anyone else, surely? I paid for my ticket and I was only there for a few seconds. If people wait their turn, there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to get a good view.

AIBU to feel annoyed at this, and to have the right to stand at the bloody front for a few seconds if I want to?

OP posts:
Starjammer · 05/08/2021 14:46

Yes it's rude. Kids or not, everyone can wait their turn. We do a lot of this with toddler DD atm, talking about waiting till the people in front are finished before it's our turn, etc. Sounds like that woman has skipped that part of parenting entirely.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 05/08/2021 14:46

Wow.

Just.

Wow.

Biscuit
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 05/08/2021 14:47

I guess she thought you could see over her kids’ heads but not vice versa?

But you’d have been completely justified in saying no or “hang on a minute” or something like that.

Mrsjayy · 05/08/2021 14:47

Yes some people with children think they trump everything it's one of those things I mean its not like they could have waited their turn or anything Confused

Figgygal · 05/08/2021 14:47

She was an entitled twit
Ignore her op

MoiraRose4 · 05/08/2021 14:47

But she didn’t actually ask you to move out of the way, and you weren’t obliged to move even if she had. So if you’re pissed off, it can only be with yourself for being soft enough to move.

Perching · 05/08/2021 14:48

Yes very rude.

What is the biscuit for green fingers?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 05/08/2021 14:49

Did your partner move too?

Original poster
Auxiliary016 · 05/08/2021 14:50

She didn't directly say "Can you move" but she absolutely meant the same thing, as she was coming straight towards me. I'm respectful to children and always make sure those around me get a turn. I would have done so anyway a few seconds later. I'm feeling annoyed at myself for being soft!

OP posts:
Original poster
Auxiliary016 · 05/08/2021 14:51

@gertrudeperkinspaperything He was elsewhere so it was just me!

OP posts:
MurielSpriggs · 05/08/2021 14:51

Yes, she's a knob.

Burnt0utMum · 05/08/2021 14:51

Surely adults generally let kids stand in front of them as they're smaller and then everyone can see? She does sound rude but you didn't have to move if you didn't want to and wouldn't be unreasonable to refuse to move but YABU to move and then get upset about it afterwards.

Bloodypunkrockers · 05/08/2021 14:51

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

Wow.

Just.

Wow.

Biscuit

What?
SpeedRunParent · 05/08/2021 14:52

Just plain entitled, it's like a plague. Ignore it OP, people like that can't be reasoned with.

Crockof · 05/08/2021 14:52

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

Wow.

Just.

Wow.

Biscuit

I don't understand this.

Op I agree with you.

CPDubs · 05/08/2021 14:52

I live half an hour away and spend a fair bit of time there with my 3 year old. Sounds about the usual behaviour from a lot of the patrons 🤣

UrbanRambler · 05/08/2021 14:53

YANBU, some people act like their kids are royalty and everyone else should submit to their desires. Everyone is entitled to stand near the front for a while, to enjoy a close of view of the animals, it's a question of everyone having patience and parents teaching kids that sometimes they need to wait. You can't win with this type of parent though, if you challenged her you'd get called a child hater.

Original poster
Auxiliary016 · 05/08/2021 14:54

I was already there and it was unexpected luck, so others started to crowd. I didn't rush to the front - I was already there and then the woman came, if that makes sense!

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 05/08/2021 14:54

I was just wondering if he was more assertive than you!

Were they little kids? I agree she put it rudely but I think people do generally let little kids through. You could have sort of shuffled all sideways so they could fit in, iyswim, and not have lost your place.

It’s hard to know not being there how rude it was!

uktrippin · 05/08/2021 14:55

Be a nice lesson for them to wait their bloody turn!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 05/08/2021 14:58

Are you only three foot four tall?

If you are, then she is being unreasonable. If not, then step back 24 inches and let the children in front to see.

NoProblem123 · 05/08/2021 15:00

YABU

I’ve been to ‘The Spirit of the Jaguar’ enclosure many times (local) and STILL haven’t seen any Jaguars.

This is clearly a stealth bragging post Sad

HilaryBriss · 05/08/2021 15:00

YABU for moving and not just saying no!!

thanksforyourcommentrandomman · 05/08/2021 15:02

@NeverDropYourMooncup

Are you only three foot four tall?

If you are, then she is being unreasonable. If not, then step back 24 inches and let the children in front to see.

Why should she though, the mother should have told her children to wait
Mrsjayy · 05/08/2021 15:02

*Are you only three foot four tall?

If you are, then she is being unreasonable. If not, then step back 24 inches and let the children in front to see.*

Or they could have just waited a minute or 2 or the mother could have been a bit more patient.